Yoga Anyone?

What is your go to exercise?

What type of exercise do you do or enjoy doing?

• Walking

• Running

• Swimming

• Yoga

• Tia Chi

• Aerobic

• Rebounding (mini trampoline)

• Weight lifting

• Marital Arts

I have tired all of those listed and I always go back to Yoga. No matter what your preferred method of exercise, your health is impacted by the amount of exercise (movement) that you do of do not do. Any type of exercise is good for you and you should choose the one that works for you.

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing my friend and yoga teacher, Patricia Becker. It was such a fun time hearing her story of how she discovered macrobiotics and doing some simple breathing exercises and poses with her on my LIVE. I just love Yoga and have been doing it for about 20 years. I will post the video at the bottom of blog.

My Journey of discovering Yoga

When I was in my 20’s, there use to be a channel of TV called, The Health Channel and they ran a show called, Yoga Zone. I just loved that show and I taped (yes, VHS taped) many of the Yoga Zone shows. I would either do the show that was on, or put in a tape and do a yoga zone show I had taped. I was doing it just about every day. Yoga Zone was a very thorough teaching of exactly what yoga was and I thought a great way to learn. I kept those tapes and still have them. I did turn the tapes into DVD’s also. I recently looked up Yoga Zone on You Tube and was excited to see it is there.

Through out the years, I did attend a few in person Yoga classes occasionally, but no regular classes, I just kept doing the Yoga Zone tapes.

About 8 years ago, I discovered PiYo (combo of Pilates and Yoga) it is the Beach Body DVD’s series. I have been doing those DVD’s regularly. And I still do Yoga also.

Why I believe Yoga is such a great way to exercise:

Yoga is both exercising and spirituality together. It incorporates the yin and the yang of things. There are poses to stretch and there are poses to strengthen. There are more advanced poses and easy version for every person do be able to do Yoga.

And then there is the breathing. Breathing correctly is very important to all the organs in the body, especially the lungs. Your body needs to be oxygenized and that can be accomplished through deep breathing and breathing exercises. Breathing, in Yoga, can help you relieve stress, calms you down, all the while building strength in your body.

Yoga instructors (that I have known) are positive, upbeat, loving, caring individuals who have great energy. And if you come across a Yoga instructor who does not have those characteristics, my advice is to find a different instructor.

Health Benefits of Yoga (there are so many it is hard to list them all)

• Improves strength, balance and flexibility

• Heart health, lowers high blood pressure, opens the heart chakra

• Improves lymph flow through the body

• Strengthen the lungs

• Relieves stress and improves mental function

• Boost immunity

• Great for bone health

• Improves posture

• Strengthens you core

• Improves muscle strength

• Gives you more energy

AND YOGA IS FUN!

Always do a type of exercise you find fun. If it is fun, you will keep it up and do it more often. Most people quit exercising because it is not fun. When I do Yoga, I have the joy of having my cats on the mat with me. Rod, my boy cat who is 2 years old, gets on the mat and I am usually laughing at him. I taped a video of what he does on the mat when I am doing Yoga (video at the end of blog). And now I have a girl cat, Jewel, who is 9 month old and she gets on the mat also. It keeps me laughing and having fun while doing exercises. (Rod and Jewel watching me as I do my PiYo, Yoga exercises pictured below.)

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Attend an upcoming Cooking Class:

Chef Val's Millet Vegetables and Hiziki with Black Garlic Cooking Class - Wed. March 22 - 6:30 to 7:30 PM (EST) - Virtual - New Recipe!
Millet the whole grain that helps you deal with stress. Hiziki the sea vegetable full of iron, calcium, protein and great for your hair. Black Garlic, a unique version of garlic with all the anti inflammatory properties but with a taste of sweetness. All of these super foods will be put together in a delicous dish and I will teach about all the health benefits. Sign up: https://www.macroval.com/cookingclasses.htm

REAL FOOD with Chef Val Radio Show - Wed. March 22 - 1 to 1:30 PM (EST). I share my recipe of the month, Ginger Lotus Root Soup. Listen LIVE or anytime after the show.

Patricia Becker, Yoga Teacher, for more info about all she offers: https://yourhealthandjoy.com/aging-with-grace/